Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
4010–25K
4525–50K
1350–75K
475–100K
5100–150K
0150K+
468 reports with mileage · 365 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Visibility/wiper. Review the 370 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 134 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
37 crash reports11 fire reports16 injury reports
What owners actually said
833 reports
1,000 miles · Apr 12, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control
IN OUR 2 WEEK OLD 2019 FORESTER, WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH AND FELT A SUDDEN JOLT AND THE CAR SHUT OFF: THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WENT OFF, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF, THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD NOT WORK AND THE ACCELERATOR WASN'T WORKING. WE GUIDED THE CAR OFF THE FREEWAY AND SAT ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. THE DEALER'…
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IN OUR 2 WEEK OLD 2019 FORESTER, WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH AND FELT A SUDDEN JOLT AND THE CAR SHUT OFF: THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WENT OFF, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF, THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD NOT WORK AND THE ACCELERATOR WASN'T WORKING. WE GUIDED THE CAR OFF THE FREEWAY AND SAT ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. THE DEALER'S MASTER MECHANIC CANNOT FIND ANY CODE THAT TELLS THEM WHAT IS WRONG SO THEY TELL US THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. THIS WAS A LIFE-THREATENING EVENT SO WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR FOR OURSELVES AND OTHER CARS ON THE FREEWAY. SUBARU IS NOT TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY. WE READ THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER "CAR STALL" PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO OURS WITH FORESTERS FROM OTHER YEARS.
NHTSA ODI #11195742
2,100 miles · Apr 10, 2019
Visibility/wiper
DRIVING ON A 3 HOUR DRIVE HOME GOING 65MPH I GOT SMALL ROCKS HIT THE WINDSHIELD AT TWO DIFFERENT TIMES AND IMMEDIATELY CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS GOING 45MPH ON ONE AND 65MPH ON THE OTHER. SEEMS TO BE A BAD DESIGN OR JUST BAD WINDSHIELDS.
NHTSA ODI #11195358
1,500 miles · Apr 10, 2019
Visibility/wiper
WHILE DRIVING A SLIGHT NOISE WAS HEARD FOLLOWED BY THE APPEARANCE OF A HORIZONTAL CRACK WHICH SPREAD TO APPROXIMATELY 15". VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A US HIGHWAY. BOTH SAFELITE AND THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER HAVE ADVISED THAT REPLACEMENT GLASS IS ON HOLD / NATIONAL BACKORDER. IT HAS BEEN BROKEN AND THERE IS NO ESTIMATE OF WHEN O…
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WHILE DRIVING A SLIGHT NOISE WAS HEARD FOLLOWED BY THE APPEARANCE OF A HORIZONTAL CRACK WHICH SPREAD TO APPROXIMATELY 15". VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A US HIGHWAY. BOTH SAFELITE AND THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER HAVE ADVISED THAT REPLACEMENT GLASS IS ON HOLD / NATIONAL BACKORDER. IT HAS BEEN BROKEN AND THERE IS NO ESTIMATE OF WHEN OR IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED.
NHTSA ODI #11195357
500 miles · Apr 9, 2019
Visibility/wiper
WITHIN THIS VEHICLE'S FIRST 500 MILES SOME WIND WHIPPED UP SAND PARTICLES ON THE HIGHWAY, I HEARD A "POP POP POP" AND WHEN I GOT OUT NOTICED THREE SMALL CHIPS ON THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE HAD CARS FOR THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MILES AND NEVER A CHIP. I AM NOW FEARFUL OF TAKING THIS CAR ON GRAVEL ROADS WHICH IS WHY I PURCHASED IT.
NHTSA ODI #11195039
1,200 miles · Apr 5, 2019
Visibility/wiper
WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON NEW 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. CAR WAS MOVING AND HIT BY A STONE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. CHIP GREW HORIZONTALLY ACROSS THE LINE OF SIGHT. NOW I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THERE IS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON WINDSHIELDS FOR THIS MODEL. THIS HAS CREATED A SAFETY ISSUE, A LEGAL ISSUE, AND A CONVENIENCE ISSUE. AFTE…
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WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON NEW 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. CAR WAS MOVING AND HIT BY A STONE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. CHIP GREW HORIZONTALLY ACROSS THE LINE OF SIGHT. NOW I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THERE IS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON WINDSHIELDS FOR THIS MODEL. THIS HAS CREATED A SAFETY ISSUE, A LEGAL ISSUE, AND A CONVENIENCE ISSUE. AFTER CHECKING ON LINE I SEE WHERE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM. THE CARS SHOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IF THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR SOMETHING AS BASIC AS A WINDSHIELD. THIS "SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE" IS MAKING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE.
NHTSA ODI #11194238
1,500 miles · Apr 5, 2019
Visibility/wiper
CRACKED WINDSHIELD AFTER DRIVING ONLY 1500 MILES. WE WERE DRIVING WITH NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD WHEN WE HEARD IT CRACK.
NHTSA ODI #11194105
7,000 miles · Apr 5, 2019
Visibility/wiper
DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. SMALL ROCK CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD TO HALF
NHTSA ODI #11193977
1,000 miles · Apr 4, 2019
Visibility/wiper
WHEN DRIVING ON THE LOCAL ROAD, I HEARD A LOUD SNAP FROM MY WINDSHIELD BUT FORGOT ABOUT THAT WHEN I GOT HOME. THE NEXT MORNING I NOTICED A CRACK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD GLASS. TODAY THAT CRACK EXTENDED BY SEVERAL INCHES. ACCORDING TO SUBARU DEALERSHIP, THERE IS A VERY LONG BACK ORDER FOR 2019 SUBARU FORESTER WINDSHIELDS…
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WHEN DRIVING ON THE LOCAL ROAD, I HEARD A LOUD SNAP FROM MY WINDSHIELD BUT FORGOT ABOUT THAT WHEN I GOT HOME. THE NEXT MORNING I NOTICED A CRACK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD GLASS. TODAY THAT CRACK EXTENDED BY SEVERAL INCHES. ACCORDING TO SUBARU DEALERSHIP, THERE IS A VERY LONG BACK ORDER FOR 2019 SUBARU FORESTER WINDSHIELDS.
NHTSA ODI #11193948
2,000 miles · Apr 1, 2019
Visibility/wiper
THE FORESTER ARRIVED TO US FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD. IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE REPLACEMENT WAS CRACKED WITHIN A DAY OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE 2019 SUBARU FORESTER WINDSHIELDS. BOTH TIMES OF INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS IMPACT…
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THE FORESTER ARRIVED TO US FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD. IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE REPLACEMENT WAS CRACKED WITHIN A DAY OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE 2019 SUBARU FORESTER WINDSHIELDS. BOTH TIMES OF INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS IMPACTED BY A VERY SMALL ROCK - YET THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD BECAME DAMAGED.
NHTSA ODI #11193134
3,700 miles · Mar 28, 2019
Air BagsCrashInjury
I WAS DRIVING MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, BUT DID END UP REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, WHICH PUSHED HER INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER. THE IMPACT WAS AT LEAST 30-35 MPH AND THE CAR IS TOTALED. AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Subaru Crosstrek, 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid, and 2019 Forester vehicles. The rear stabilizer bracket bolts may loosen and detach.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Missing bolts may allow the rear stabilizer bracket to shift, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will retorque and replace any missing bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-21.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent vehicles. The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power while driving.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the short block engine will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUW-08.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Forester and Crosstrek vehicles. A connector inside the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) unit may short circuit resulting in a loss of electric power steering assistance.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Loss of power steering assist would require higher steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: None of the affected vehicles have been sold yet. Subaru has notified dealers and they will inspect the steering gearbox, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUC-88.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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